rosie's place winter newsletter 2013
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July 18, 2011. That date is forever etched in Saundra Greene’s memory: it was the day she and her teenage son–homeless and unable to find a place that would take them both–had to split up. It also marks the first time Saundra came to Rosie’s Place. She got a bed in our Overnight Program on that very first morning and almost immediately, she started the long process that would lead her, this holiday season, to a new home and reunion with her son.
Over the years Saundra had survived domestic violence, unemployment, even the death of her elder son, and she tried to summon that strength in the face of losing her home. She and her youngest, Jourdan, 16, had been living in a government-assisted apartment in Taunton and when they had to leave the area for a few months, the electric bill was not paid on time. That was enough to terminate their housing. They both moved in with Saundra’s sister in Boston but space and resources were tight and they weren’t able to stay there long. After a few months, Jourdan went to live at his father’s house and Saundra found her way to Rosie’s Place.
“From the minute I walked into the lobby and saw the light from the skylight, I knew I was going to be ok,” Saundra says. “Rosie’s Place gave me a whole different perspective on being homeless.”
For the next two years Saundra moved among Rosie’s Place and other shelters in the city, but always returned here to meet with Advocates, have a meal, and join in classes in the arts@rosiesplace program. She sent out multiple housing applications every week and was dogged in following up on
WINTER 2013A Home for the Holidays: A Family Reunited
Q & A with Erin Miller, Advocacy Manager
Our Executive Director on Defying Expectations
Become a Friend for All Seasons in 2014
6 Ways to Give This Holiday Season
Community of Friends at Funny Women...Serious Business
Winter Wish List and Button Box
Erin Miller, who joined Rosie’s Place two years ago, oversees a multi-lingual department of Advocates and several partners from external agencies who provide services on site. Each month we assist more than 500 women with housing, health care, educational and employment opportunities, legal advice, referrals and more. The winter months present unique challenges for the women we serve.
In what ways does thecold weather affect our guests?For homeless women, this can be a really scary time. It is just not safe to spend extended time outside when the temperatures drop. Finding shelter every night can be a full time job, and beds become even more scarce. It’s too cold to walk but many women can’t afford public transportation to get to appointments, go to work or run necessary errands. Women who are housed face larger utility bills and often have to make hard choices such as cutting their food budget to stay warm. For women who have mental health issues, the lack of sunlight in winter increases depression and then isolation. The winter holidays bring extra pressure to provide gifts and big meals for family, which makes the reality of having little money tougher to bear. And if you are not connected to family, holidays can be a very lonely time.
What does Rosie’s Placedo differently in the winter months?Our Advocates give out coats, sweaters,hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. We keep our Outreach Van running year-round, handing out blankets, warm clothing, soup and coffee along with our usual items. The stays for our Overnight guests are extended beyond the usual 21 days and festive activities are planned to create a sense of community and positive holiday experiences. In the event of severe weather, we welcome a limited number of women to stay overnight in our Sitting Room. We continue to stay open and serve meals every day, no matter the weather. Advocates also direct women to other agencies and resources for items like free turkeys.
How can others—our partner organizations, donors, volunteers—help at this time?People can donate items on our Wish List (page 4) or engage in some of the Ways to Give outlined on page 3. When our women receive gifts, they feel appreciated and less alone. We are grateful for the outpouring of support now and we also ask that people keep us in mind after the holidays, when winter really sets in. Taking the time to smile and say “hello” to our guests is so important, remembering that this can be a tough time for lots of people.
every lead. “I believed I would be housed again, as long as I put the work in,” Saundra says. “No one else was going to do it for you.” She says the hardest part was being separated from her son. “I especially missed being able to give him a hug every night at bedtime,” she remembers.
Her prospects for a two-bedroom apartment brightened this spring thanks to the housing search specialist Rosie’s Place employs from HomeStart. Saundra applied for and received a voucher that she could use to pay her monthly rent once she had located a suitable apartment. Because Saundra is so connected to Rosie’s Place–she still visits almost daily for meals and activities–she searched in the surrounding neighborhood and found a place within walking distance. Saundra had been able to store very few possessions when she became homeless, so Rosie’s Place and HomeStart were instrumental in helping her locate and then transport furniture to her new apartment. She and her son Jourdan would be together again.
ReunitedAfter only a short time, Saundra’s tidy, sunny home looks lived in, brightened by animal print rugs and the presence of two pets–a parrot and a cat.
Jourdan is now 18 years old and a senior at ABCD University High School, a small, alternative school that is the perfect fit for him. The period of displacement and separation from his mom was difficult, as he quickly moved from his dad’s house to a number of other arrangements until he settled with a family friend in Boston. Changing schools so often disrupted his progress and he got to the point where he “didn’t want to try anymore.” But the stability Jourdan found now that he is back with his mother and in the new school has helped turn things around. He is performing at his grade level and on track to graduate in the spring, with plans to enlist in the Air Force. This experience has taught Jourdan patience and self-control. “I took my life day by day, one step at a time because I had learned that things could change in an instant,” Jourdan says.
“This Christmas will be the most important one we’ve ever had,” Saundra says, “because we are so thankful for the opportunity for another chance, a new beginning. Last year my son opened his gifts as we sat in a restaurant. This year we’ll cook our favorite dishes together in our own kitchen.” She adds, “Since we’ve been in our new home, every day feels like Christmas.”
Q&AERIN MILLER
ADVOCACY MANAGER
“ “This Christmas will be the most important one we’ve ever had
because we are so thankful for the opportunity for another
chance, a new beginning… Since we’ve been in our new home,
every day feels like Christmas.Saundra
NEWSA Home for the Holidays:
A Family Reunited
“Tonight I was on the [Outreach] van to let people know about the legal center at Rosie’s Place. I ended up spending most of the night handing
out food and just listening to people’s stories…on the way back to campus, I thought hard about what access to lawyers could do for these
[poor] communities, and struggled. For most, the justice system has served as a violent and punishing structure maintaining their marginalized societal
status with seemingly endless force…Nevertheless knowledge about available legal remedies and tools…could initiate the process of a life out
of poverty and violence. I also realized again that often the most significant benefit of all these programs was the small opportunity to treat these
individuals with dignity and kindness, especially when the rest of the day society actively worked to ignore them.”
Sima Atri, Harvard Law School student doing an independent clinicalplacement at Rosie’s Place, excerpted from an opinion piece, “Reflecting on
Legal Education from the Back of an Outreach Van,” published in The HarvardLaw Record, October 21, 2013.
Dear Friends:
It’s said we make a living by what
we get, but we make a life by
what we give. By supporting
Rosie’s Place and its guests–
through your gifts of time and
energy and talent, your financial gifts, your fond
wishes and your steadfast commitment–you are making a
life that’s larger by the moment. You have our great thanks
for joining us in our efforts to alleviate suffering and craft
solutions for poor and homeless women.
If you’ve visited Rosie’s Place, you know we look at our
world with clear eyes. We acknowledge that coming to
Rosie’s Place is for most of our guests an admission of
defeat. For her, that first day in our community is probably
one of her worst days. She arrives considering herself
a collection of problems, of faults–homeless, hungry,
jobless, addicted, ill. Right from the start, we work to turn
that around, to hold in our hearts the image of a strong and
dignified woman who can make decisions that help her
go where she wants to go. While we provide resources
and information, we also provide the message that every
woman is a resourceful individual whose past and present
need not be her limits. We strive to hold that image
regardless of the setbacks our guests face along the way.
We know, too, that second chances–sometimes lots
of second chances–have to be a part of life. Because
they live with so little, there’s no room for error in our
guests’ lives. Budgets are precarious, as are jobs and
apartments. One misstep can lead to a fall from grace that
is spectacular not only in its speed but in its magnitude.
At Rosie’s Place, we understand that the solutions for our
guests are found over the long term, and are often more
piecemeal than complete. We stand by our guests for as
long as they need in order to make a difference.
How do we have the nerve to think that, by imagining
change and success for each of our guests, justice is
squarely ahead of us?
I think the answer at Rosie’s Place is that we believe that
within every guest there is something that refuses to be
defined by the circumstances she finds herself in. I think
the answer at Rosie’s Place is that we put our whole heart
into defying expectations. And, after all, a positive attitude
may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough
people to make it worth the effort.
We invite you to refuse to be defined, to defy expectations,
to annoy others with your positive attitude, and to assert
that together, we can make justice happen. This is truly the
way to make our sanctuary for poor and homeless women
a model for everyone in our Commonwealth.
We hope with all our hearts that the coming year is the
best ever for you and those you love. Happy holidays!
With faith,
Sue Marsh
Start the new year right by joining our monthly giving club, Friends for All Seasons. In 2014, our 40th anniversary year, we have set a goal of recruiting 40 new friends. With your help, we can do it!
Friends for All Seasons is an easy and convenient way to support Rosie’s Place year-round through automatic charges to a credit card or checking account. Your monthly gift provides steady and dependable funding that enables us to better meet the needs of our guests. Other benefits of monthly giving include:
• Administrative costs are reduced, allowing your gift to have more of an impact• You will be kept up-to-date on our work through the Rosie’s Place newsletter
and invitations to special events but will not receive any other requests for support• You will receive one tax receipt in January summarizing your giving for the year• You will be able to give at a level over a 12-month period that you may not have
thought possible in a one-time donation
To join Friends for All Seasons, please return the form below in the enclosed envelope or enroll at rosiesplace.org/fas. Please contact Katie Amoro at 617.318.0211 or [email protected] with any questions.
Help us make our goal of 40 new Friends for All Seasons in 2014 and consider joining today!
Resolve to Become aFriend for All Seasons in 2014
Our Executive Directoron Defying expectations
Sima
“Being homeless, even though it feels traumatic,apparently isn’t the absolute worst thing that can happento you in your life, if you’ve got the right kind of peoplearound you. Coming to Rosie’s Place, I get those peoplearound me. I’m not criticized, it’s not negative here; you’re
not looked down on. They give you the tools to buildyourself back up.”
Brandey D., a guest featured in a video about her journey that wasshown at the Funny Women…Serious Business luncheon, sharing
the positive impact Rosie’s Place has had on her life.
“Because you are here today, I know you understand that many women in today’s world are finding themselves displaced and in need of services.
Maybe they’ve gone through a divorce or catastrophic medical problem, which drained all their savings. Fortunately they have Rosie’s Place where they get so much more than a handout—they get a helping hand and the support they need… So from the bottom of our hearts, Tom and I would like to say thank
you for your support of Rosie’s Place.”
Angela Menino, First Lady of Boston, excerpted from remarks delivered at the Funny Women…Serious Business luncheon on October 15, 2013.
QUOTABLE
ROSIE’S PLACE NEWS is published three times a year to inform our friends about activities and events taking place throughout the Rosie’s Place community. OUR MISSION is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to help poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity, and find security in their lives.
Executive Director Sue MarshDirector of Development Leemarie MoscaDirector of Communications | Editor Michele ChausseCommunications Assistant | Contributor Katie Gustainis VelaDesign Big Red Chair Consulting
We’d love to hear from you! Please contact us with your comments at 617.318.0210.
Rosie’s Place accepts no government funds and relies instead on committed supporters like you!
YES! I would like to become a Friend for All Seasons!
Please accept my monthly gift to support the poor and homeless women of Rosie’s Place.
$50 $35 $25 $20 $15 Other
Name
Address City State Zip
Day Telephone Email
Option 1: Charge my credit card on the 1st of each month.
Credit Card No. Exp date SSN
Option 2: Electronically debit my checking account on the 1st of each month. Enclosed is a check in the amount I would like to give each month and this check will serve as my first gift in the club.
$10 minimum
Brandey
Mrs. Menino
From left, media women Kim Khazei, Kate Merrill, Lisa Hughes, emcee Susan Wornick and Sorboni Banerjee(far right) join headliner Joy Behar, Executive Director Sue Marsh and Olympian Kayla Harrison in celebrating our work.
October marked one year since our
Outreach Van first started making its
route through Dorchester and Roxbury. The
numbers of women approaching the van–
some with young children–increased greatly
over the course of the year. When it started
a year ago, van staff were reaching out to 50
women each month; since then that number
has grown immensely, and they are now
connecting with as many as 340 women
in that same time period. Many of these
women have come from the streets and into
Rosie’s Place, where they are now receiving
safe shelter, housing assistance and other
services. We thank everyone who contributed
to our summer fundraising campaign for the
van, helping us raise $100,000 to receive a
$25,000 challenge grant from a generous
friend.
Rosie’s Place food program introduced
a breakfast meal in September and
the dining room is now serving three meals
Monday-Friday and continuing with lunch and
dinner service on weekends. This nutritious
and satisfying meal includes a choice of yogurt,
fruit, oatmeal toast, orange juice, and the
all-important morning coffee. The breakfast
program was well-received from the start and
is now serving close to 300 breakfasts every
week. It is appreciated by women living on the
street and those staying in other shelters, who
often must skip the most important meal of
the day.
Close to 100 poor and homeless women
attended a Rosie’s Place-organized
candidate forum on October 24. Our Public
Policy program hosted the eight Boston City
Council At-Large Candidates for a panel
discussion of questions posed by Rosie’s
Place guests and women from the community.
Candidates responded to questions
concerning affordable housing availability, job
opportunities for single women, and support
and safety for homeless women and families.
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FriendsCommunityof
Every holiday season brings a rise in the number of women in need, both at Rosie’s Place and in our community. We work to brighten the season by providing guests with holiday gifts and cold weather essentials. There are a number of ways our generous supporters can help us during the winter months:
1. COLLECT nEEdEd HOlIdAY ITEMSCoordinate an effort with your workplace, school, or family to collect holiday gifts for our guests. Contact [email protected] for details. Our most-needed items include:
• $25 gift cards (Old navy, Walgreens, Payless, Bed, Bath & Beyond, CVS, etc.)
• lotion and body spray gift sets• Comforters, blankets, and sheets• Movie passes• Make-up or beauty products• Full-size toiletries
2. VOLUNTEER TO WRAP gIFTS WITH uSHelp wrap gifts at the Cambridgeside galleria Mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with proceeds supporting Rosie’s Place. To sign up, contact Marty Wengert at [email protected].
3. SEND CuSTOMIzEd HOlIdAY CARdSOur 10-packs ($18), variety packs ($24) and custom orders of 50+ are available in four designs. This year we’re featuring an exclusive illustration, Winter Friends, by one of our guests. View designs and order at rosiesplace.org/holidaycards.
4. PURCHASE gIFTS FROM OuR STOREneed that special holiday gift? Why not make a difference while you shop by purchasing an ornament, necklace, key chain, bookmark or more from our Women’s Craft Cooperative at rosiesplace.org/wcc.
5. BENEFIT ROSIE’S PlACE WITH An EVEnTConsider hosting a WCC craft fair (contact [email protected] to schedule). Or make Rosie’s Place the beneficiary of your community event or holiday gathering. Contact [email protected] for details.
6. DONATE AT ROSIESPlACE.ORg/gIVEVisit rosiesplace.org/give to fund our vital programs and services for 12,000 women each year. A monthly donation supports Rosie’s Place’s work year-round!
We are thrilled that our annual Funny Women…Serious Business luncheon on October 15 raised more than $475,000 to support our vital work with poor and homeless women. The sold-out event at the Hynes Convention Center brought together 1,500 corporate sponsors and individual supporters who also generously contributed to a centerpiece raffle that raised more than $143,000. “The spirit of Rosie’s Place is matched only by the courage of our guests and the generosity of our supporters,” said Rosie’s Place Executive director Sue Marsh. “Thank you for reaching out and creating justice.”
Winter Friends by Sharon R.
6 Ways to Give This Holiday Season
April Riccio, Public Relations Manager of Neiman
Marcus Natick, centerpiece sponsor, (left) and
Melissa MacDonnell, Vice President and Corporate
Affairs Director of Liberty Mutual, presenting sponsor,
announce the centerpiece raffle winner.
Joy Behar entertained the crowd with funny stories from her
international travels.
WCVB-TV’s Susan Wornick proved the expert emcee, Boston’s media women added so much emotion to the program, and comedian Joy Behar left the audience laughing. Rosie’s Place is grateful for the underwriting of headlining sponsor liberty Mutual, presenting centerpiece sponsor neiman Marcus natick, and leading sponsors Boston Interiors, Christina and Michael gordon, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Pioneer Investments.
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BUTTON BOXNON-PROFIT ORG.
US POSTAGEPAID
BOSTON, MAPERMIT NO. 14526
889 Harrison AvenueBoston, MA 02118
www.rosiesplace.org
As the days turn shorter and the weather turns colder, Rosie’s Place aims to provide our guests with warmth and comfort they can count on. The most-needed items this winter include:
• Winter gear to fight the cold: Hats, gloves, sweaters, scarves, mittens, socks, large coats, fleeces, and sweatshirts
• Hot drinks to warm the soul: Coffee mugs, individual packets of hot chocolate, tea bags, and instant coffee
• Everyday essentials: Blankets, throws, comforters, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, wet wipes, toothbrushes, and deodorant
Through your generosity, we can continue to make the cold months a little warmer for our guests. All donations can be dropped off at Rosie’s Place between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. directions to our 889 Harrison Avenue location can be found at www.rosiesplace.org or by calling 617.442.9322. Thank you for supporting us in this way!
Holiday time offers the ideal opportunity to support Rosie’s Place with the purchase of gift items or gorgeous jewelry. You can choose from an array of attractive key chains, bookmarks, purse hangers and our popular bead ornament. And we’re sure you’ll find something for everyone on your list from our wide selection of statement necklaces, pendants, cuff bracelets, earrings and pins.
This year’s special holiday item is the Magnifier necklace, priced at only $44. With a 1.6” magnifying glass, it is both beautiful and functional. It is adorned with Czech glass beads on a 35” antique chain with either a silver or brass finish.
You can shop the Women’s Craft Cooperative online at rosiesplace.org/wcc, make an appointment to visit our boutique or meet our artisans and shop at the annual holiday fair at South Station, December 18 from 10am - 4pm.
And don’t forget to visit J. Jill stores this month to purchase bracelets specially designed for the retailer, with a portion of the sales benefitting Rosie’s Place.
31 Nights of Light December 10, 2013, 5:00-10:00pm The ShopS aT pruDenTial cenTer, boSTon
Join Trenni Kusnierek of Comcast SportsNet as we “flip the switch” at 5pm on December 10 to light the top of the Prudential Tower “Rosie’s Place pink.” The fun doesn’t stop there! Shop that evening with special discounts and make a $25 holiday donation to Rosie’s Place to receive an exclusive gift bag from Sephora and the Women’s Craft Cooperative, along with an invitation to a VIP after-party at Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar. To make your donation or for more information, visit rosiesplace.org/31nights or contact Katie Amoro at 617.318.0211 or [email protected].
winterWISH LIST
Safe and Sound GalaTueSDay, may 6, 2014WGbh STuDioS, briGhTon
Mark your calendar for our40th anniversary celebrationof food, friends and philanthropy, the Safe and Sound gala. You’ll enjoy delectable cuisine prepared and served by celebrity chefs with fine wine pairings—and the chance to win unique insider-only auction packages. Sponsorship opportunities are available and tickets begin at $500. For sponsorship information, please contact Benjamin Weisman at 617.318.0232 or [email protected].
WBUR’s “A Christmas Carol”TueSDay, December 17, 2013, 7:00pm
omni parker houSe, boSTon
Experience a Boston holiday tradition at WBUR 90.9 FM’s 11th annual reading of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Join your favorite WBUR personalities at Boston’s historic Omni Parker House, the site of Dickens’ first reading, as they bring this timeless tale to life. Tickets are $50 and all proceeds benefit Rosie’s Place. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit rosiesplace.org/wbur.
SAVE THEDATE
Please share your memories of Rosie’s Place with us as we celebrate 40 years of shelter, sanctuary and service in 2014. Email a short written remembrance to [email protected] and it may appear on our website or in our Spring 2014 newsletter. Thank you for being part of our mission as we go forward into our 5th decade! 4
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